small but complete; in miniature
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
small but complete; having all essential features but on a smaller scale; miniature
formalOriginally from Mencius, describing someone who possesses the qualities of a sage but on a smaller scale. Now used generally to describe anything that is compact yet comprehensive, such as a miniature model or concise summary.
Zhè这
gè个
mó模
xíng型
jù具
tǐ体
ér而
wēi微
，
wǔ五
zàng脏
jù俱
quán全
。
This model is small but complete, with all the essential parts.
Zhè这
piān篇
bào报
gào告
suī虽
rán然
jiǎn简
duǎn短
，
dàn但
jù具
tǐ体
ér而
wēi微
，
hán涵
gài盖
le了
suǒ所
yǒu有
zhòng重
yào要
nèi内
róng容
。
Although brief, this report is comprehensive in miniature, covering all the important points.
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Nà那
zuò座
yuán园
lín林
jù具
tǐ体
ér而
wēi微
dì地
zài再
xiàn现
le了
jiāng江
nán南
yuán园
lín林
de的
jīng精
suǐ髓
。
That garden recreates the essence of Jiangnan gardens in miniature.
Mèng孟
zǐ子
chēng称
Yán颜
Yuān渊
“
jù具
tǐ体
ér而
wēi微
”
，
yì意
wéi为
yǐ已
yǒu有
shèng圣
rén人
zhī之
tǐ体
，
dàn但
guī规
mó模
shàng尚
xiǎo小
。
Mencius said Yan Yuan was 'concrete but small,' meaning he possessed the substance of a sage but on a smaller scale.